NYC High Schools Refuse to Give Test - Support these courageous teachers!

Support the First NYC High School Teachers to Refuse to Give Test

On Thursday, May 1, 2014, we, the teachers and school staff, at the International High School at Prospect Heights are refusing to give the NYC English Language Arts Performance Assessment Exam. We are standing in solidarity with the more than 50% of our parents who have opted their students out of taking the test.

Please support the teachers and staff members who have joined together to abstain from administering a test we believe is harmful to English Language Learners(ELLS). We are not willing to sacrifice the trust of our students, their feelings of self worth, and our professional duty to do what is best for them. In good conscience, as educators dedicated to the learning of our students and the welfare of our school communities, we are not administering this test. We ask that Chancellor Carmen Fariña remove the New York ELA Performance Exam in favor of an assessment created by educators who best know the individual needs of their students and classrooms.

Still Separate, Still Unequal - Day of Action Sat., May 17

Come organize with the Grassroots Education Movement (GEM), including TSJ, CTU, and others, on the May 17 Day of Action to defend public education and continue the fight against the privatization of education.

Email us here to confirm for the rally and to go door to door canvassing in North Lawndale with GEM after the May 17 rally at Pope School. Download flyer here

UIC Social Justice Initiative Events

Join us at our Teaching and Learning Freedom event on May 7th at the WBEZ Little Village Bureau. Next week's Eyes on the Prize community dialogue facilitators are Jackson Potter and Asif Wilson. Lastly, make sure to participate in our May 21stTwitter Town Hall and also attend the UIC Feminist Film Series taking place this week!

A documentary film series that will engage students on issues of sexual violence, community responses, restorative justice, envisioning a feminist future, and more. Nights of critical conversations, dialogue, and sharing of resources.[Information about the films can be found here.]